trip planning

Planning a trip like Jessica's adventure takes a lot of research and work. Planning must start early as there is a lot to coordinate and many decisions need to be made, each one usually effecting the next.

One of the most important things to think about first is your travel style. Your style may be determined by budget, your sense of adventure, or comfort level outside your home country.

To help determine your style ask yourself these questions: Can you rough it or do you want luxury? Would you like to travel alone or in a group? How much time do you want to allot for sight-seeing versus free time? Would you like to use guides or would you like to explore places on your own? How comfortable would you be interacting with the locals or trying to navigate areas on your own? Once you take the time to think about these questions you will get a sense of how you need to start planning your trip.

Although Jessica and her family spent 2 months traveling Asia, they wanted to see as much of Asia as they could and had 7 countries as a must-visit. A limited amount of time in each country led to the decision to do tours for each country. Everything would be planned ahead of time so there was no need to worry about making plans while traveling or trying to navigate themselves around Asia. Once they agreed to do tours for each country the next decision was if they would do group tours or private tours. In the end a mix of both was planned for the trip.

Below are the companies the family used to travel with and all are highly recommended.

(Also check out Jessica and Nina's planning and travel tips!)


gap adventures

The family did 2 group tours (China, Thailand) and privatized 1 tour (India) with Gap Adventures. Very excellent tours at a very good price. The family got very authentic experiences in each country. The tour guides were excellent, and the family met great people on their group tours, all who provided a very welcome (and needed) break for the traveling threesome from each other...

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discovery indochina

This company was recommended to Nina by some friends. Jessica was in contact with the company and built and itinerary for private tours of Cambodia and Vietnam. Excellent service from drivers and guides.

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go india journeys

This was the company that Gap actually contracted out for the family's privatized tour. Not sure if it would be cheaper to plan a tour directly with Go India or thru Gap, but the service was very good. The guides were all incredibly knowledgeable and the tour was a good mix of activities and free time. A private driver was provided to the family who drove them the majority of the trip - an excellent way to travel India.

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jessica and nina's tips

planning tips

  • Book flights as early as possible - they only get more expensive the closer to your travel date. Search the internet for cheap flights, but check the prices you find against travel agent prices.
  • Check early for needed country visas. You will need to send away your passport each time.
  • Borrow up to date travel guides from the library. Photocopy the information for currency, hotel suggestions, transportation options, not to be missed attractions and common phrases. Make a folder for each country. This helps you to travel light, so you won't need to bring the whole book.

travel tips

  • Pack lightly! Take clothes you can wash and dry overnight. Take laundry powder detergent in a small container and take a sink plug.
  • Take extra prescription medication. Take bandaids, moleskin, medicine for stomach upset and headache etc.
  • Make photocopies of your passport, travel insurance and emergency numbers (ie.credit card cancellation numbers). Keep these in a different location from your original information.
  • It is best to have your hotel call a taxi. Ask the price you would expect to pay for the ride. Insist the driver put on the meter. In non metered cyclos and tuk-tuks, negotiate the price ahead of taking the ride.
  • Bartering is often expected, check the prices in several places so you can make your best deal. If on a guided tour, ask your guide what to expect to pay. Bartering can be fun for both parties - but don't get too carried away; does the extra $1 the seller is asking for really make a difference to you? It probably does to them.